Chapter 12

It was an exaggerated high-pitched exclamation. But with a voice like a nightingale, everyone's gaze immediately focused on Isabella. The person she was addressing was her mother, Lucrezia. However, the intended audience was overtly Queen Marguerite and her ladies-in-waiting.

"I am so delighted that Her Majesty has requested a sermon on the sacrifices of Yezak's Gohn. It's my favorite part, Mother."

Lucrezia happily chimed in with her daughter's melody.

"I'm glad I taught you Gallican. Which part did you like the most?"

"The part where Yezak's Gohn sacrificed himself! I love how the people all thanked him when he sacrificed himself for everyone."

The atmosphere grew cold. According to the Holy Scriptures, Yezak's Gohn made two sacrifices. The first time he sacrificed his life, he was shunned and died alone. It was only after he performed the miracle of resurrection and sacrificed himself to prevent the divine punishment that fell upon the continent that the general public finally praised and revered him. Today's sermon was about Yezak's Gohn's first sacrifice. Isabella, who only understood the word 'sacrifice' in Gallican, thought it was about the second sacrifice, which the nobles preferred, and tried to show off, only to reveal her lack of language skills.

"Indeed, after a long journey, praise does eventually follow sacrifice."

A lady-in-waiting who had followed Queen Marguerite from the Kingdom of Gallica awkwardly laughed, trying to ease the tension. But Isabella, who always missed the mark in strange places, smiled brightly, unaware of the lady-in-waiting's attempt to save her.

"But right after Yezak's Gohn passed away on the cross, the residents of the seven hills of Gaiyas immediately came out and wept together! Oh—though his passing was certainly sad, how thrilling it must have been for Yezak's Gohn's disciples!"

The atmosphere became as cold as the inside of an icehouse. It was a statement that not only failed to honor the saint's sacrifice and express gratitude but also suggested a lack of maturity and character, making it hard to cover up.

Even Lucrezia, who couldn't understand what mistake her daughter had made in Gallican, was taken aback and looked around. However, Isabella, who always missed the mark, blinked her large, beautiful eyes and looked around at the people.

Ariadne, with a wry smile, finally stepped in.

"I like the courage Yezak's Gohn showed the most."

It seemed the only way to ease the tension was for the youngest, herself, to show off a bit.

"He must have been very scared before he passed away."

"Oh."

"What a good young lady."

The girl, who looked like she was on the cusp of adulthood, deeply empathized with the saint's suffering, which brought smiles to the adults' faces. As the atmosphere relaxed, the ladies quickly threw in a few social pleasantries to change the topic. Ariadne added, a bit late, "And he must have been anxious about leaving his legacy to immoral, selfish, and unintelligent people."

But everyone seemed not to hear it. Except for Queen Marguerite, who whispered to her lady-in-waiting, "So the younger one speaks Gallican."

[“The second daughter speaks Gallican.”]

The satisfied queen's gaze then shifted to Lucrezia. Today, Lucrezia, who wore a dress with a neckline a finger's width deeper than what was socially acceptable, bowed dramatically when she caught the queen's eye.

"I, Lucrezia de Rossi of the Etruscan Kingdom's Taranto Diocese, greet Her Majesty Queen Marguerite!"

The dramatic bow was a way to hide her nervousness. Lucrezia was merely the mistress of Cardinal de Mare, so officially, she still had to be referred to by her maiden name. Ariadne thought it would be hilarious if Queen Marguerite called Lucrezia 'Miss Lucrezia' in front of everyone. After all, Lucrezia had three children and an adult son but had never been married. If someone called her 'Miss Lucrezia' to her face, she would probably turn pale, tremble, and spend a week at home in a hysterical fit, destroying household items. However, Queen Marguerite, who didn't want to alienate the cardinal's mistress, nodded in acknowledgment.

"..."

Embarrassed by the queen's silence, her lady-in-waiting brightly guided them.

"Please come to the parlor. The ladies are waiting."

The queen, without saying a single word to the cardinal's family, moved regally, and her lady-in-waiting led Lucrezia and her party to the parlor behind a small chapel.

"Oh! It's really beautiful!"

Isabella's exclamation fit the small parlor, elegantly decorated with green silk and mahogany wood. A few ladies, each holding a cup of afternoon tea, were seated. They were Queen Marguerite's closest confidants. Lucrezia, who had always dreamed of being part of this inner circle, looked around, unsure where to sit.

"Oh, hello."

Lucrezia awkwardly greeted the central sofa, and the ladies moved like pigeons avoiding a pedestrian. The most noticeable was a tall lady with gray hair, who clearly avoided Lucrezia. Ariadne snorted.

'What a coincidence to meet her here.'

It was the Marchioness of Marquez, who had spread rumors about Cezar being Leo III's illegitimate child and had been pulled by the hair by Ariadne at a tea party in her previous life. The Marchioness of Marquez, of course, didn't recognize the young Ariadne. Instead, she smiled and stood up to greet the queen as she entered the parlor.

"I greet Her Majesty Queen Marguerite!"

The ladies in the parlor brightly and noisily greeted the queen. Queen Marguerite, who hadn't said a word to Lucrezia, warmly and familiarly replied to the Marchioness of Marquez.

"My loyal friend, the Marchioness of Marquez, you look well today."

"Of course, it's all thanks to Her Majesty's benevolence."

The queen, with pale skin and golden hair identical to the prince's, couldn't hide her foreign accent. Lucrezia was slightly surprised by the strong Gallican accent, but the ladies in the parlor didn't show any sign of finding it strange, smiling warmly. Queen Marguerite glanced at Lucrezia, Isabella, and Ariadne, who were being left out, and introduced them casually.

"These are the family of Cardinal de Mare. I invited them because I heard his daughter is clever and devout."

The ladies, who had been gossiping about the 'cardinal's daughter,' looked at Isabella. Despite Lucrezia's low social status, Isabella, after her debutante ball last year, was already known for being clever and the most beautiful in San Carlo.

Isabella stepped forward, grabbed the hem of her dress, and curtsied.

"I am Isabella de Mare. It is an honor to meet the most esteemed people in the kingdom."

The rosy blush on her fair skin was very endearing. Wearing the finest dress, with a pearl-embroidered headpiece, Isabella looked incredibly beautiful and precious, regardless of her questionable birth.

"Oh, this must be Isabella de Mare."

"She's as beautiful as they say."

"How cute."

Ariadne, a half-beat late, greeted the ladies, but her gaze and body were directed at Queen Marguerite.

"I am Ariadne de Mare, the second daughter. May the blessings of Yezak's Gohn be upon your noble blood."

The ladies, who had been praising the beautiful and flawless eldest daughter, seemed to lose their words when they saw the scruffy and gloomy second daughter. They had already used all the compliments on the eldest daughter. However, the queen was pleased with Ariadne's greeting. Her lips were stern, but the deep crow's feet at the corners of her eyes showed a smile.

"Young children can be so polite."

It was the first direct word Queen Marguerite had spoken to the de Mare family. The ladies, satisfied that the honor was directed at the queen, began to shower Ariadne with compliments, calling her calm and well-educated. Isabella, who had been pushed to the sidelines, gritted her teeth.

'Queen Marguerite has a blind eye!'

At that moment, the Marchioness of Marquez, who was leading the group of ladies, spoke to Lucrezia, who was sitting on the outskirts.

"Isabella's dress is beautiful. Where did you have it made?"

Lucrezia, delighted by the genuine noble's comment, answered.

"It was made by our house seamstress."

Isabella, seizing the opportunity, smoothed out her dress to draw attention.

It was a high-end custom-made dress, made with the finest silk to complement Isabella's slim figure. The lace of a high-quality chemise was visible under the thick silk fabric.

"The seamstress is skilled. I wish she could make one for my daughter, but it's a pity it's not from a shop."

Lucrezia, who desperately wanted regular interaction with real nobles, offered an excessive favor.

"You can have our seamstress. The Marchioness of Marquez is always welcome."

The Marchioness of Marquez smiled strangely.

"Your seamstress must be slow. I can't add more work. Isn't the seamstress who made the dresses for your eldest and second daughter the same?"

"…!"

"Come to think of it?"

The ladies, intrigued by the implications, began to alternate their gazes between Isabella and Ariadne's dresses. Indeed, there was a significant difference between the eldest and second daughter's outfits. Isabella's attire was extremely luxurious, with the latest fashion in every detail. However, Ariadne's dress clearly lacked adult attention. If Lucrezia had been more established in society, the ladies might have been more tactful. But Lucrezia had no standing, and Queen Marguerite didn't seem to think much of her. The Marchioness of Marquez, who was always second to the Marchioness of Marquez, glanced at the queen and, judging it safe, opened the floodgates.

"A noble lady must take care of her children."

As if she couldn't lose or had been waiting for this, the Marchioness of Marquez immediately responded.

"Mistresses are bad, but children are part of the family. The family is everything."

The ladies chimed in.

"Refinement… common sense…."

"Children are innocent…."

"How pitiful…."

Lucrezia's face turned red and pale, but she had no defense. She had dressed her eldest daughter in the finest and her second daughter in cheap clothes. Lucrezia, who wasn't quick on her feet, was saved by Isabella.

"Excuse me, ladies. My sister has been unwell and recently returned from the Bergamo estate."

Isabella smiled beautifully, approaching Ariadne and holding her hand affectionately.

"My sister's clothes are all being made by the best seamstress. She's still thin and small, so I gave her my dress from last year."

"…."

"Originally, they were made to suit my frugal taste. Siblings share clothes when they're young."

Isabella looked at Ariadne with a warm smile, her baby-like skin and dimples showing.

"Isn't that right, my sister?"

Ariadne smiled, following Isabella's lead.

'Actions speak louder than words.'

Instead of exposing Lucrezia's misdeeds, Ariadne stood up and, like Isabella had done earlier, smoothed out her dress.

"Yes, sister. This dress is too good for me. I didn't know it was last year's, but I really like it."

As the dress fluttered, the worn and faded chemise underneath was visible. The ladies gasped in unison.

"Goodness! Look at the rough fabric!"

"The color is completely yellow. What was it originally?"

"Look at those stains! They look like kitchen stains. Does she do housework?"

Lucrezia's face turned pale.